LA-based Zim designer shines in foreign land

Source: LA-based Zim designer shines in foreign land – NewsDay Zimbabwe Tinashe Adby Phiri BY FREEMAN MAKOPA LOS ANGELES-BASED Zimbabwean designer Tinashe Adby Phiri of the Znzorzi label continues to spread his tentacles in various parts of the world through his unique designs. In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Phiri said he has […]

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Source: LA-based Zim designer shines in foreign land – NewsDay Zimbabwe

Tinashe Adby Phiri


BY FREEMAN MAKOPA
LOS ANGELES-BASED Zimbabwean designer Tinashe Adby Phiri of the Znzorzi label continues to spread his tentacles in various parts of the world through his unique designs. In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Phiri said he has made changes in their design signatures as it now encompasses both African and Western Aesthetics.

“My design signature has changed as it now embodies a celebration of love and the Jet Set Lifestyle. Our fall/ winter 2020/21 women swear collection that is now available for purchase on our website www.znzorziadby.com is the best representation of what we are now about,” he said.
“You will see sensual jumpsuits, faux fur jackets, faux fur scarves and faux fur bags with looks that evoke memories of lives lived in the world of private jets and sprawling mansions”
He said he has embraced technology which enables him to expand his horizons.
“We are now an online business, now we reach out to customers through Facebook ads , Instagram ads , and Google ads. We are taking different steps to have a significant online presence and this has provided new opportunities for significant growth since we are now speaking and going direct to the consumer ,” he said.
Phiri said since he introduced the brand in Los Angeles, they received tremendous support from New York, Florida and Los Angeles customers.
“It has been very profitable since the middle man or gate keeper is now out of the way. This means serving more customers at a growth rate that we are satisfied with. Embracing technology has done us good and has expanded our horizons,” he said.
The fashionista said he had his career breakthrough in 2015 as he started to receive emails from different countries after he released a collection.
“In 2015/16 l felt very compelled to create a menswear collection that would meet international standards in every way possible. I wanted to create a collection that would make fashion people both in Zimbabwe, Africa and overseas pay attention,” he said.
“l made some original sketches, prepared patterns and went to Johannesburg to buy the finest fabrics that best represented my vision and also that l could afford because I was working on a very tight budget. But l was not going to allow that to stand in my way because l have always lived by this statement; Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
He said the collection came to life as he had a ground breaking photo shoot with Optimas (Zimbabwean photographer) and a local model Michael Jacobson.
“My client gave us his covert to use in that photo-shoot. I remember it took us the whole day, but after the photo-shoot while looking at the images, I knew that we had created something bigger than us,” he said.
Phiri rose to fame in 2012 after getting a lifetime opportunity to work as an intern with South African fashion great David Tlale and he managed to be one of the two chosen from Southern Africa, after sending his fashion portfolio.
During that time he met and worked with South African greats including iconic singer Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, President Jacob Zuma’s wives, Julius Malema, choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, socialite Khanyi Mbau, gospel singer Rebecca Malope and award winning Isidingo actress Kgomotso Christopher.
Phiri has also managed to be part of the most prestigious fashion weeks in Africa such as the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa as well as the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa in Johannesburg.

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‘Late Ginimbi flashed his wealth for the world to see but left his father to wallow in poverty’

Extravagant Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s father is a broken man. He has bemoaned the ill-treatment he suffered at the hands of his late son who flashed his wealth for the world to see but left him to wallow in poverty. Anderson Kadungure, 65, said his …

Extravagant Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s father is a broken man. He has bemoaned the ill-treatment he suffered at the hands of his late son who flashed his wealth for the world to see but left him to wallow in poverty. Anderson Kadungure, 65, said his late son hardly had time for him. “I am not sure […]

The post 'Late Ginimbi flashed his wealth for the world to see but left his father to wallow in poverty' first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.

ZDF to prioritise human resources

Source: ZDF to prioritise human resources | Herald (Top Stories) Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri Herald Reporter The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will continue to prioritise quality human resource development, as it plays a pivotal role in moulding a competent force, a Cabinet Minister has said. Presiding over the graduation of […]

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Source: ZDF to prioritise human resources | Herald (Top Stories)

Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Herald Reporter

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will continue to prioritise quality human resource development, as it plays a pivotal role in moulding a competent force, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Presiding over the graduation of Junior Staff Course Number 74 at Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare on Friday, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said human resource development through training was a key component of a modern army.

“Government, through the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs remains committed to supporting training activities in the ZDF as it plays a pivotal role of moulding competent officers that constitute a key component of all professional armies,” she said.

“Government will continue to support training institutions and ensure the success of all their programmes. We are aware of the challenges being faced with respect to conditions of service, of great concern are issues of inadequate accommodation and disposable incomes, which are being seriously looked into.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said ZDF continued to be a shining beacon due to its professionalism and urged the graduates to continually research on global security issues being increased by worldwide technological developments .

“The ZDF has over the years demonstrated unparalleled professionalism both locally and internationally through participation in peacekeeping missions in various countries,” she said.

“I urge you to continue researching on issues relating to national security so as to keep abreast of the ever-changing operating environment influenced by rapid worldwide technological developments.

“Asymmetrical warfare and terrorism are some of the topical contemporary challenges that require new and sophistical strategies to overcome.”

The Junior Staff Course with 109 students commenced in June and ran for 21 weeks.

The course did not have foreign students from allied countries due to Covid-19.

The course covered subjects that included staff duties, tactics, logistics, training and peace support operations.

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Lack of funding stalling Gwayi Shangani Dam construction

Source: Lack of funding stalling Gwayi Shangani Dam construction | Newsday (News) LACK of funding is reportedly stalling progress at the US$121 million Gwayi Shangani Dam, with only 39% of the project funds having been expended to date, while government is failing to secure more to complete it. BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE This was disclosed by […]

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Source: Lack of funding stalling Gwayi Shangani Dam construction | Newsday (News)

LACK of funding is reportedly stalling progress at the US$121 million Gwayi Shangani Dam, with only 39% of the project funds having been expended to date, while government is failing to secure more to complete it.

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

This was disclosed by Gwayi Shangani Dam project assistant engineer Lucio Chayeruka last week during a tour of the project by journalists, which was organised by Matabeleland civic society organisations.

Chayeruka said failure to release more funds for the project had resulted in the contractor going back to China in January, which had further stalled the completion of the project.

The Gwayi Shangani Dam is considered to be the panacea to Bulawayo’s serious water problems which have seen the city going for weeks without water coming out of taps. Residents have to rely on borehole water, while others resort to unsafe water sources.

In 2016, China International Water and Electric Corporation, which is the contractor, suspended operations at the dam due to lack of funding.

“This dam is a US$121 million project. Of the US$121 million, we have so far consumed about 39% of the money,” Chayeruka said.

“The issue here is lack of funding. As you can see, we have all the materials in place. The only material that we need to buy is cement and when all funding has been put in place the dam will only take one year to be completed.”

He said after the contractor returned to China, nothing much was done at the project.

“The contractor is expected to come back again in January next year to continue with the construction of the dam,” Chayeruka said.

Matabeleland Collective chairman Phanuel Sibanda said a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) was supposed to be signed because the current one had become void. “Planning and research for the pipeline still has to be done. EIAs expire after two years and thereafter must be renewed. The last EIA was done in 2010,” Sibanda said.

He said redesigning of the pipeline needed to be done, which meant that there was need for a new bill of quantities.

“So it means it will be difficult to have an actual figure of the total cost for the bridge if an update has not been made,” he said.

Sibanda said the return of the contractor in January would not guarantee that the project would continue as it would be affected by the onset of the rainy season.
The Gwayi Shangani Dam is supposed to supply Cowdray Park and other areas of Bulawayo.

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